Sash-holder



(Moda.) l

M. A. GUTTER.

SASH HOLDER..

Patented Jan. 19,' 1886.

'V UNITED STATES PATENT MARTIN A. CUTTER, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

SASH-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,692, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed October 3, 1885. Serial No. 178,908. (Model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN A. CUTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston,in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Sash Supporters, of which the following is a specicatiomreference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices employed for supporting or holding windows, shutters, or blinds that have a vertical sliding movement in any desired position, and is especially designed for use on street or railway cars. The devices nowin use for this purpose generally consist of a spring-bolt entering a suitable orifice in the frame within which thesash slides, at certain specified points,not allowing the sash to be secured at any place in its line of travel, but only at those predetermined points where the orifices have beenmade in the frameto-receive the bolts. Another device sometimes used, and which does allow the sash to be secured at any desired point, consistsiof a cam or eccentric secured to either-the sash or frame, and so pivoted that it may be brought to jam the sash and fix it in any desired place. Most of these devices are objectionable,as they give more or less trouble in Working, and always require both hands of the user to raise or lower the sash and operate the holding devices.

The object of my improvement is,therefore, to produce a holding device that shall be positive in its action, supporting the window or blind at any desired point firmly, and that may be manipulated with one hand simultaneously with the act of raising or lowering the sash by the same hand, thus allowing the other hand to be at liberty for other uses.

The invention therefore consists in supplying the sash with two spring-actuated camsone upon each side-which cams in their normal condition press against the frame and hold the sash, but are simultaneously withdrawn and held out of contact with the frame by the partial rotation of a cylindrical operating-handle, with which the cams are connected by suitable rods, said handle also furnishing the means by which the sash is raised or lowered,

'erating-handle and its attachments.

all the parts being constructed and combined as will be hereinafter specifically set forth.

In the drawings forming a part of this specifica-tion, Figure 1 shows a section of the side of acar embracing two Windows, one of which is closed and the other partly open, and each provided with the improved holding devices. Fig. 2 shows part of a sash upon an enlarged scale, the operating-handle, one of the camcases, and the connections between the cams and handle. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the op- Fig. 4 is a view of one of the cam-cases with the covering-plate removed, showing the shape and positions of the cam and spring. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the cam-case with the adjacent portion of the sash, and Fig. 6 showsa modication of the cam.

In the drawings the same letters indicate like parts in the different figures, A representing a portion of the side of a street or railway car, and B B windows therein. The sashes of'these Windows are indicated by C, and each one has a vertical sliding movement in side grooves formed for their reception in the carframe in the usual manner.

Secured by screws or other means in suitable recesses cut to receive them, in each side of the sash, are the cam cases D D, each of which is composed of a metal plate, a, which forms the outer face of the case and the covering-plate a', that is wholly embraced by the recess in the sash cut to receive the case. These plates a a receive between them the cam b and its actuating-spring c. The cam b is of semicircular shape in its general outline, but is provided on its inner side with a rounded projection, b, that serves as a bearing for the spring. A portion of the periphery ofthe cam is preferably serrated where it projects beyond the edge of the case and bears against the frame, so as to give it a better hold upon the latter. This cam is also pivoted near one end upon the pin d,which passes through the case, so that the movements of the cam are eccentric, allowing it to be swung upon the'pivot in such a manner that the serrated portion of its periphery may be thrust outside the case or drawn Wholly within it.

To the opposite end of the cam from the lOO pivot d is secured, by means of the screw or stud e, one end of a connecting-rod, F, by which the cam is connected with the operating-handle H, a curved slot,f, being formed in the part a of the case, through which the screw-stud c passes, and in which it travels as the cam is moved. The spring c is preferably a light plate-spring of U form, held in place by a bolt or rivet, c', which passes through the case and through the angle of the spring, one end of said spring bearing against the projection b of the cam and the other against the sash within the cavity formed for the reception of the case.

To the middle of the upper rail of the sash is securely pivoted by meansof the screw 7L, which passes through the cross-bar gand into the sash, the operating-handle H. This handle is preferably constructed, as shown in the drawings, in the form of a short section of a tube serrated upon the outside, to give a firm grasp to the hand, and provided on the end next the sash with the diametrical cross-berg, through which the pivot-screw h, upon which the handle turns, passes, said crossbar also carrying the studs tz', to which is attached one end ofthe connecting rods F F, the opposite ends of said connections being pivoted to the cams I).

It will be apparent from the above description of the devices that when the handle H is turned to the right the cams will both be drawn into the cam-cases by means of the rods F, and that when the handle is released the cams will be forced outward by the springs c. The method of operating the devices is, therefore, to seize the handle,turn it sufficiently to withdraw the cams, thus relieving their bite upon the frame, raise orlower the sash to the position in which it is desired to retain it,and then let go the handle, when the cams will be hrown out into engagement with the frame, and all further movement ofthe sash arrested until the operation is repeated. These de` vices are also applicable to sliding shutters or blinds-such as are in common use on street and railway ears-and the ordinary slidingsash windows of dwelling-houses without any essential cha-ngein the construction of the sash or of the holding devices.

I am aware that it is not new to employ cams for the purpose of holding windows in position` and that many other devices have been devised for that purpose; but, so far as I am acquainted with them,thcy require the use of both hands to adjust the window and operate the holding devices at the saine time.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the form of the cam is changed, and instead of connecting the rod F directly to the cam it is attached to a wedge-piece which acts upon an arm extending from the lower end of the cam.

I am also aware that other features of the device-such as .a slotted camholdcr and rods connecting the cams to a central lever by which they were operated-have been heretofore used but in none of them were the combination and arrangement of parts like mine, nor could they be manipulated in the same manner by one hand.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

l. In a holding or supporting device for sliding windows or blinds, the tubular oper1 atinghandle H, milled upon the outside and provided with the crossbar g, adapted to re- Ceive the pivot upon which the handle turns and one end of the rods by which the holding` cams are operated, as set forth.

2. In a sash-holding device, the combination of the tubular operating-handle H, conmeeting-rods F, cam-cases D7 provided with curved slotsf, the cams b, and springs c, said cams being placed upon opposite sides of the sash, and the mechanism arranged to operate both cams simultaneously by turning the handle, as set forth. f

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN A., CUTTER.

Vitnesses:

AUGUST J. HEUCK, JOHN W HAsKINs. 

